WO2006070577A1

WO2006070577A1 - Sinkable float and method of using sinkable float

Info

Publication number: WO2006070577A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/022542
Authority: WO
Inventors: Masahiro Yoshida; Kensuke Takeuchi; Yoshifumi Kuroda; Nobuyuki Shikama; Kentaro Ando; Taiyo Kobayashi; Shigeki Hosoda
Original assignee: Independent Administrative Institution, Japan Agency For Marine-Earth Science And Technology; The Tsurumi Seiki Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-12-28
Filing date: 2005-12-08
Publication date: 2006-07-06
Also published as: US7699677B2; US20080087209A1; EP1832505A1; JPWO2006070577A1; EP1832505A4

Abstract

A sinkable float enabling the detail and secure adjustment of an effective buoyancy acting thereon and a method of using the sinkable float. The sinkable float comprises a float chamber forming an airtight internal space, a fluid storage part formed in the float chamber and storing a buoyancy adjusting fluid, a bladder disposed on the outside of the float chamber and adjusting a buoyancy acting on the sinkable float by changing the volume of the buoyancy adjusting fluid filled therein, a pump mechanism for feeding the buoyancy adjusting fluid between the bladder and the fluid storage part, and a drive source driving the pump mechanism. The sinkable float is characterized in that the pump mechanism is formed of a gear pump.

Description

Specification

Floating float and how to use it

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a floating float and a floating float used in an advanced marine monitoring system, for example.

Background art

[0002] In recent years, in order to cope with environmental problems such as global warming, it is necessary to elucidate and understand environmental fluctuation mechanisms such as the mechanism of heat transport in the ocean on a global scale. Advanced marine monitoring system is being promoted. In such an advanced ocean monitoring system, the vertical structure of physical parameters such as water temperature and chemical parameters such as salinity, for example, changes in various parameters in the depth direction from the depth of about 2000 m to the ocean surface. It is necessary to observe. As a device for such observation, it is possible to move up and down in water and maintain the position in the up and down direction by automatically adjusting its buoyancy according to a preset program. An automatically controlled float / float is used.

[0003] As a conventional float / float, for example, one having a configuration shown in FIG. 3 is known.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the float / float float 50 includes a float chamber 51 made of, for example, reinforced resin, which forms an airtight internal space, and acts on the float / float float 50 as a whole. The buoyancy adjustment mechanism 52 that adjusts the size of the buoyancy, the measurement mechanism 53 that measures various parameters in water, the data transmission mechanism 54 that wirelessly transmits the data obtained by the measurement mechanism 53, and controls each of these mechanisms The control mechanism 55 is configured to have a power supply device 56 that supplies power to each mechanism.

[0005] The buoyancy adjusting mechanism 52 is provided inside the float chamber 51, the fluid containing portion 521 for containing the buoyancy adjusting fluid therein, and the action portion thereof are located outside the float chamber 51. An elastically inflatable / shrinkable bladder (Bladd er) 522. In the buoyancy adjustment mechanism 52, the bladder 522 is connected to the fluid accommodating portion 521 via the main flow path 523A having the one-way transfer type pump device 524 for transferring the buoyancy adjustment fluid, and branches from the main flow path 523A. A return flow path leading to the fluid containing portion 521 is formed by the branch flow path 523B. The branch flow path 523B is provided with a valve mechanism 525 that adjusts the flow rate of the buoyancy adjusting fluid according to the degree of opening of the valve. Here, the one-way transfer type pump device has only a function of transferring the fluid only from one side of the main flow path 523A to the other, and is an irreversible device that cannot transfer the fluid in the reverse direction. When the pump device is stopped, the main flow path 523A is closed.

[0006] The measuring mechanism 53 includes a sensor 531 such as a Conductivity—Temperature Depth Profiler (CTD Pr ofiler) provided outside the float chamber 51 and the sensor 531. It consists of a sensor board 532 to be controlled. The data transmission mechanism 54 includes a radio antenna 541 and a transmission board 542 that are partly exposed to the outside of the float chamber 51. The sensor board 532 and the transmission board 542 are electrically connected to the control mechanism 55.

[0007] The mass / volume ratio of the entire float / float 50 is such that the volume of the bladder 522 filled with no or almost no buoyancy adjusting fluid is minimal, and the buoyancy acting on the float / float 50 In the minimum effective buoyancy state where the minimum is, the effective buoyancy value in seawater is set to be negative and sink.

[0008] In the description of the present specification, "effective buoyancy" means

It means the value obtained by [buoyancy acting on floating float in water] [total mass of floating float]. Therefore, when the effective buoyancy is negative, the ups and downs float moves down in the water, and when the effective buoyancy is positive, the ups and downs float moves up in the water, and the effective buoyancy is zero. In some cases, the float and float should be submerged in water, and then stopped vertically to maintain a certain depth.

[0009] The float / float float 50 having the above-described configuration is usually used, for example, by being introduced into the sea from a ship. After the float / float 50 is introduced into the sea, For example, a series of operations that move down to the desired depth, drift at that depth for a certain period, and then gradually move up to the sea level as one cycle is automatically executed in a preset cycle. In this process, various parameters are measured. Then, for example, measurement data obtained during ascending movement in the sea is wirelessly transmitted to the base station when the floating float 50 rises above the sea surface.

[0010] Specifically, the floating float 50 put into the sea is closed by the pump device 524 in which the main flow path 523A is stopped with no or almost no buoyancy adjustment fluid inside the bladder 522. At the same time, when the branch flow path 523B is closed by the valve mechanism 525, the minimum effective buoyancy state is established, and the downward movement is started.

[0011] In this minimum effective buoyancy state, when driving of the pump device 524 is started by a signal according to an appropriate program preset in the control mechanism 55, the buoyancy adjusting fluid flows from the fluid storage portion 521 to the main flow path. 523A is supplied to the bladder 522, and the bladder 522 is elastically expanded according to the supplied amount of the buoyancy adjusting fluid, and the effective buoyancy of the float / float float 50 is gradually increased. To do. As a result, the descending movement speed of the float / float float 50 gradually decreases.

Then, when the value of the effective buoyancy becomes zero, the driving of the pump device 524 is stopped, and the bladder 522 is expanded in accordance with the volume of the buoyancy adjusting fluid existing therein. As a result, the floating float 50 is in a neutral buoyancy state in which the effective buoyancy is zero, and as a result, the floating float 50 stops in the vertical direction so as to maintain the depth in the sea.

[0013] Further, the bladder 522 is continuously filled with the buoyancy adjusting fluid, and the bladder 522 is further expanded, so that the effective buoyancy gradually increases, and the effective buoyancy becomes a positive value. Then, the floating float 50 begins to move up in the sea.

On the other hand, when the branch flow path 523B is opened by the nozzle mechanism 525 in a state where the driving of the pump device 524 is stopped, the buoyancy adjusting fluid existing in the bladder 522 is transferred to the bladder 522. Due to the inertial restoring force and the external force acting on the bladder 522 from the outside, such as water pressure, the fluid containing portion 521 is passed through the branch channel 523B. Discharged. As a result, the bladder 522 contracts and its volume decreases to reduce the effective buoyancy. As a result, when the value of the effective buoyancy becomes negative, the float / float float 50 moves down in the sea again.

[0015] That is, according to the float / sink float 50 as described above, the volume of the bladder 522 is adjusted by adjusting the volume of the buoyancy adjusting fluid filled in the bladder 522. The effective buoyancy change accompanying the change in the volume of the 522 makes it possible to move up and down, and to stop in the vertical direction in the sea.

[0016] In the floating float for observation as described above, it is necessary to finely adjust the effective buoyancy associated with the float float, in order to control the intended moving speed and stop depth with high accuracy. Such adjustment of the effective buoyancy is achieved by finely adjusting the volume of the bladder, that is, the volume of the buoyancy adjusting fluid existing inside the bladder by the pump device 524 and the valve mechanism 525. .

[0017] In the float / float float 50 having the above-described configuration, however, a pressure having the same magnitude as the water pressure acting on the bladder 522 acts on the valve mechanism 525 via the buoyancy adjusting fluid. However, it is difficult for the valve mechanism 525 to precisely control the degree of opening of the valve under pressure due to the mechanism. As a result, the flow rate of the buoyancy adjustment fluid discharged from the bladder 522 is detailed. It is difficult to control, and the amount of the buoyancy adjusting fluid in the bladder 522 cannot be finely adjusted. Therefore, the desired effective buoyancy value cannot be realized with high accuracy. Eventually, the intended movement speed of the float / float float 50 and the stop in the vertical direction at the desired depth are underwater. There is a problem that it is actually very difficult to realize the operation with high accuracy. In particular, when the float / float float 50 is located deeply, the pressure applied to the valve mechanism 525 is considerably large, so that the above problem becomes more significant.

Further, in the valve mechanism 525, even if the degree of opening of the valve is maintained constant, the amount of the buoyancy adjustment fluid flowing through the valve mechanism 525 is, for example, the pressure acting on the buoyancy adjustment fluid. Accordingly, there is a problem that the flow rate of the fluid for adjusting the buoyancy is difficult to control accurately. Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-145177

Disclosure of the invention

[0018] The present invention has been made on the basis of the circumstances as described above, and the object thereof is to provide a float / sink float and an adjustable float capable of adjusting the effective buoyancy acting on itself in detail and with certainty. And providing a method of using the floating float.

The float / float float of the present invention includes a float chamber 1 that forms an airtight internal space, a fluid storage section that is provided in the float chamber and that contains a buoyancy adjusting fluid, and an exterior of the float chamber 1. The buoyancy adjusting fluid is filled with the buoyancy adjusting fluid to change the volume and adjust the buoyancy acting on the float and sink float, and the buoyancy between the bladder and the fluid container portion. A float / sink float comprising a pump mechanism for transferring the adjusting fluid and a drive source for driving the pump mechanism;

The pump mechanism is constituted by a gear pump.

[0020] Here, in the float / sink float of the present invention, it is preferable that a valve mechanism for controlling the movement of the buoyancy adjusting fluid between the fluid containing portion and the bladder is provided.

In the above float and sink float, the gear pump preferably has a performance-guaranteed drive rotation range of 10 to 150 rotations Zmin.

[0022] In the above float and sink float, it is preferable that the gear pump has a fluid transfer ability of 4.5 to 100 ccZmin.

[0023] Further, in the above float and sink float, it is preferable that the drive source related to the pump mechanism is a DC motor.

[0024] In the above float and sink float, it is preferable that the buoyancy adjusting fluid has a viscosity of 3000 cst or more at 2 ° C.

[0025] It is preferable that the float and sink float includes a measurement unit that measures pressure and at least one water-related information. The measurement unit is preferably capable of measuring weather-related information.

[0026] A method for using the float / float float according to the present invention is a method for using the float / float float, wherein the amount of the buoyancy adjustment fluid in the bladder is adjusted based on at least pressure information obtained by the measuring means. Features. [0027] According to the float / sink float of the present invention, both the discharge amount and supply amount of the buoyancy adjusting fluid according to the bladder are actively controlled by the gear pump which is a reversible pump. The supply amount and the discharge amount of the buoyancy adjustment fluid according to the above are accurately controlled. As a result, the volume of the buoyancy adjusting fluid existing in the bladder is reliably adjusted. Accordingly, the volume of the bladder is finely adjusted, and as a result, the effective buoyancy associated with the floating float is controlled with high accuracy.

[0028] The gear pump basically exhibits a braking function when used in combination with a buoyancy adjusting fluid having a relatively high viscosity as described above, and a high pressure acts on the buoyancy adjusting fluid. Even in such an environment, unintended operations are reliably prevented, and the rotation angle and rotation speed of the gear are accurately controlled. Accordingly, the amount of fluid transferred is always controlled with high accuracy, and as a result, the volume of the bladder is always adjusted in detail, and eventually the buoyancy associated with the floating float is controlled with high accuracy. .

[0029] Further, since the gear pump is smaller and lighter than the conventional one-way pump, the entire float and sink float can be reduced in size and weight. As a result, high efficiency of power consumption related to the floating float is achieved, a long service life is achieved, and a high degree of freedom in design conditions such as the shape of the float chamber is obtained.

[0030] According to the configuration in which the valve mechanism is provided, since the movement of the buoyancy adjusting fluid between the fluid storage portion and the bladder is controlled with high accuracy, the volume of the bladder is reduced. As a result, the buoyancy of the float / float float is controlled with high accuracy.

[0031] According to the method of using the float / float float according to the present invention, the amount of the buoyancy adjusting fluid filled in the bladder is measured by various information such as seawater electrical conductivity (salt concentration), water temperature, and water pressure. By adjusting based on this, it is possible to reliably control the floating float to the intended depth position related to the information.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0032] FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross section showing a configuration of an example of a float / sink float of the present invention by a cross-section along the long axis of a float chamber. FIG. 2 is an explanatory sectional view showing the configuration of the gear pump in a section perpendicular to the rotation axis of the gear.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory cross section showing a configuration of an example of a conventional float / sink float in a cross section along the vertical axis.

Explanation of symbols

10 Float float

11 Float chamber

12 Buoyancy adjustment mechanism

121 Fluid container

122 Blooder

123 communication path

124 Driving source

125 Valve mechanism

126 Valve mechanism drive source

13 Measuring mechanism

131 sensors

132 Sensor board

14 Data transmission mechanism

141 wireless antenna

142 Transmitter board

15 Control mechanism

16 Power supply

20 Gear pump

201 gear case

202a Inner retention space

202b Outside retention space

203 Drive shaft

204 Drive gear 205

206 Driven shaft

207 driven gear

208 inward opening

209 outward opening

210 Transfer space

50 Floating float

51 Float chamber

52 Buoyancy adjustment mechanism

521 Fluid container

522 Blooder

523A main channel

523B branch channel

524 pumping equipment

525 Valve mechanism

53 Measuring mechanism

531 sensor

532 sensor board

54 Data transmission mechanism

541 Wireless antenna

542 Transmitter board

55 Control mechanism

56 Power supply

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the floating float according to the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the structure of an example of the float / sink float of the present invention in a cross section along the long axis of the float chamber. FIG. 2 is a cross section of the structure of the gear pump perpendicular to the rotation axis of the gear It is sectional drawing for description shown by. In the example shown in the figure, the float / float float 10 is provided with a substantially spherical float chamber 11 made of, for example, reinforced resin, which forms an airtight internal space, and acts on the float float / float 10 as a whole. A buoyancy adjustment mechanism 12 that adjusts the size of the buoyancy force, a measurement mechanism 13 that measures various information including water pressure in water, a data transmission mechanism 14 that wirelessly transmits electronic data obtained by the measurement mechanism 13, and each of these The control mechanism 15 that controls the mechanism and the power supply device 16 that supplies power to each of the mechanisms are configured.

In the above, it is preferable that the measurement mechanism 13 can measure at least one water-related information together with the water pressure. Further, the measurement mechanism 13 can measure at least one weather-related information. It is preferable.

Here, the water-related information is various parameters that can be measured in relation to seawater, for example, and specific examples thereof include physical parameters such as seawater electrical conductivity (salt concentration), water temperature, Examples thereof include biological parameters such as chlorophyll concentration, dissolved concentration of water-soluble gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, and optical parameters such as seawater transparency.

The weather-related information is various parameters that can be measured in relation to the atmosphere. Specific examples thereof include physical parameters such as temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure, and various composition gas concentrations. Chemical parameters etc. can be mentioned.

[0036] The shape of the float chamber 11 is not particularly limited. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 1, a shape in which a hemispherical dome is integrally synthesized on the upper part of a spherical body. Has been. Due to the shape of the outer casing, it is possible to obtain an excellent pressure resistance as well as to reduce the size of the float / float float 10 as a whole, and also to move water in both the vertical and horizontal directions. Since the resistance due to is substantially uniform, there is an effect that the position control of the floating float is easy. Thus, the shape of the float chamber 11 as described above can be reduced by reducing the size and weight of the buoyancy adjusting mechanism 12 related to the float / sink float 10 by adopting a gear pump as a pump device, as will be described later. As a result, it became feasible.

[0037] The buoyancy adjusting mechanism 12 is provided inside the float chamber 11, and is made up of a fluid containing portion 121 that contains a buoyancy adjusting fluid therein and an elastic member, and the buoyancy adjusting mechanism 12 is filled in the inside. A bladder 122 provided outside the float chamber 11, which is made of a deformable portion that can be elastically expanded and contracted in accordance with the filling amount of the force adjusting fluid, is connected to the fluid container 121 and the bladder 122. A gear pump 20 disposed in the passage 123, a drive source 124 provided to directly connect to the gear pump 20 for driving the gear pump 20, and a valve for switching the open / close state of the communication passage 123 A mechanism 125 and a valve mechanism drive source 126 that drives the valve mechanism 125 are configured.

Here, as the bladder 122, it is possible to use one having an appropriate shape and configuration capable of adjusting the effective buoyancy associated with the floating float 10. The volume of the bladder 122 is determined according to the mass-volume ratio of the entire float / float 10 and is, for example, 0.3 to 10%, particularly 0.5 to 4% of the occupied volume of the float / float 10. .

[0039] As the buoyancy adjusting fluid, it is possible to use fluids having various compositions and physical properties. For example, the viscosity is preferably 3000 cst or more at 2 ° C, more preferably 3 000 ˜20,000 cst, particularly preferably lOOOOcst. The specific gravity of the buoyancy adjusting fluid is preferably, for example, 0.85 to L 0. Specific examples of the buoyancy adjusting fluid include oils that can be used as gear oils, such as silicone oils. For example, silicone oils having a viscosity of lOOOOcst at 2 ° C. can be preferably mentioned. . By using such a buoyancy adjusting fluid having specific physical properties, it is possible to obtain suitable lubrication characteristics in the gear pump 20 having a configuration described later, and to improve liquid tightness in the gear pump 20 so that high fluid transfer is possible. Accuracy is guaranteed reliably.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gear pump 20 includes a drive gear 204 disposed in a gear case 201 so as to be rotatable around a drive shaft 203 that is directly connected to a drive source 124. The drive gear 204 is engaged with the engagement portion 205, and is configured to have a driven gear 207 arranged to rotate around the driven shaft 206 following the rotation of the drive gear 204. . Further, an inner opening 208 that communicates with the fluid storage portion 121 via the communication passage 123 is provided in the inner staying space 202a formed on the upstream side of the coupling portion 205 in the forward rotation direction indicated by the arrow. In addition, an outer opening 209 that communicates with the bladder 122 via the communication path 123 is provided in the outer staying space 202b formed on the downstream side of the coupling portion 205 in the rotation direction. [0041] In the gear pump 20 described above, the minimum fluid transfer unit defined by the volume of one transfer space 210 defined by one tooth gap and the inner peripheral wall surface of the gear case is 5.8-23. μml, especially 10-15 μml. By having such a fluid transfer unit, it is possible to finely control the amount of the buoyancy adjustment fluid to be transferred.

[0042] The gear pump 20 has, for example, 0 to 70 MPa, high pressure, and pressure resistance. According to such a gear pump 20, for example, even when a large pressure is applied via the outer opening 209, the transfer amount of the buoyancy adjusting fluid is controlled with high V and accuracy regardless of the transfer direction. It is possible.

[0043] In the gear pump 20 having the above-described configuration, for example, other design elements such as the gear diameter, the number of gear teeth, the tooth thickness, and the tooth gap depth related to the drive gear 204 and the driven gear 207 are driven. It may be determined according to the physical properties of the buoyancy adjusting fluid and the required flow rate of the buoyancy adjusting fluid. And such a gear pump 20 should just be designed as what has the fluid transfer capability for buoyancy adjustment of 4.5-100ccZmin, for example, Preferably it is 20-50ccZmin.

In addition, the gear pump 20 preferably has a performance-guaranteed driving rotation range of 10 to 150 rotations Zmin, particularly 10 to 100 rotations Zmin, in which design effects are reliably exhibited.

Here, as the drive source 124 for driving the gear pump 20, for example, if the torque is 3.5 Nm and the performance-guaranteed drive rotation region is 10 to 150 rotations Zmin, the drive source 124 is particularly suitable. For example, a direct current motor or an alternating current motor provided with a speed change mechanism may be used. As a specific example of the drive source 124, a DC motor provided with a speed change mechanism can be preferably cited. In particular, for example, a DC motor provided with a speed change mechanism whose drive power is 8 to 20 volts is preferably exemplified. it can.

[0045] As the valve mechanism 125 and the valve mechanism drive source 126, appropriate pressure resistance is realized, and the movement of the buoyancy adjusting fluid can be controlled ON-OF F by switching the open / close state in the communication path 123. If so, those configurations are not particularly limited, and various known ones can be used.

In the float and sink float 10 described above, the measurement mechanism 13 is provided, for example, an electrical conductivity water temperature depth meter (Conductivity-Temperatu) that is provided outside the float chamber 11. re-Depth Profiler (CTD), barometer, and other sensors 131 that include multiple types of sensor devices, and the sensor board 132 that controls the sensors as well as storing data obtained by these sensors 131 It is configured. Further, the data transmission mechanism 14 includes a radio antenna 141 and a transmission board 142 that are partly exposed to the outside of the float chamber 11. The sensor board 1 32 and the transmission board 142 are connected to the control mechanism 15.

In the floating float 10 having the above configuration, the valve mechanism 125 is opened by the valve mechanism drive source 126 by the control signal from the control mechanism 15, and the gear pump 20 is driven by the drive source 124. For example, when the drive gear 204 is driven to rotate in the forward direction (the arrow direction in FIG. 2), the driven gear 207 is rotated following the rotation of the drive gear 204. As a result, the buoyancy adjusting fluid existing in the inner staying space 202a is formed between the tooth spaces of the drive gear 204 and the driven gear 207 and the inner peripheral wall surface of the gear case 201, and the drive gear 204 and The plurality of transfer spaces 210 that move in the circumferential direction following the rotational movement of the driven gear 207 are transferred to the outer staying space 202b. Further, a new buoyancy adjusting fluid is supplied from the fluid storage part 121 into the inner staying space 202a by the negative pressure in the inner staying space 202a generated as a result.

[0048] On the other hand, the buoyancy adjusting fluid transferred to the outer staying space 202b is pressurized and supplied to the bladder 122 through the outer opening 209, whereby the supplied buoyancy adjusting fluid is supplied. Depending on the volume of the fluid, the bladder 122 expands and its volume is increased, and as a result, the buoyancy acting on the floating float 10 is increased.

[0049] In addition, when the drive gear 204 of the gear pump 20 is rotationally driven in the reverse direction by the drive source 124, the buoyancy adjusting fluid is discharged from the bladder 122 to the fluid accommodating portion 121, and thus the discharged fluid is discharged. The bladder 122 contracts in accordance with the volume of the buoyancy adjustment fluid, and the volume is reduced. As a result, the buoyancy acting on the float / sink float 10 is reduced.

[0050] Then, by increasing or decreasing the buoyancy acting on the float / float float 10 as described above, when the effective buoyancy is a positive value, the float / float float 10 moves upward in the water, and the effective buoyancy is negative. When the value is, the float / float 10 moves down in the water, and the effective buoyancy is When it reaches the mouth, the floating float 10 stops vertically so as to maintain a certain depth. In the above, when the gear pump 20 is stopped and the valve mechanism 125 is closed by the valve mechanism drive source 126, the communication path 123 is closed and the buoyancy adjustment in the bladder 122 is adjusted. The amount of fluid is maintained. Accordingly, the effective buoyancy at the time when the gear pump 20 is stopped and the valve mechanism 125 is closed is maintained as it is, and the operation state of the float / sink float 10 corresponding to the value of the effective buoyancy is continuously maintained. Become.

[0051] As described above, the bladder 122 changes due to elastic expansion or contraction of its volume in accordance with the amount of the buoyancy adjustment fluid that is forcibly supplied or discharged by the gear pump 20, and thus, The effective buoyancy associated with the float / float float 10 can be adjusted by changing the total volume of the float / float float 10.

[0052] Then, the float / float float 10 as described above specifically includes, for example, the following series of operations (1) to (4) as one cycle, and this cycle is automatically set as appropriate in advance. It is used for observation in such a way that it is executed many times with a period of. Here, the observation may be continued as long as power can be supplied from the power supply device 16, for example.

[0053] (1) The action of moving down in the sea with effective buoyancy being negative

(2) When the effective buoyancy is set to zero, the upward / downward movement is stopped so as to maintain the depth at the desired depth, and then it waits while drifting at the depth.

(3) After the preset period has elapsed, the effective buoyancy value is set to positive, and the sensor 131 measures one or more parameters and moves upward to the sea level at a predetermined speed.

(4) Operation to transmit data obtained during ascending movement wirelessly by data transmission mechanism 14 while maintaining a floating state at sea level

[0054] In addition, the float / float float 10 is configured such that, for example, the following series of operations (a) to (e) are performed as one cycle, and this cycle is automatically executed a number of times at a preset appropriate cycle. It may be used for observation.

[0055] (a) When the effective buoyancy is negative and the sensor 131 measures one or more parameters while moving down the sea at a predetermined speed (b) The target depth is determined based on the value of one or more parameters obtained by the sensor 131, the effective buoyancy is set to zero, and the vertical movement is stopped to maintain the target depth.

(c) Continuously or intermittently measure one or more parameters, determine the latest target depth based on the latest parameter value obtained, and measure the parameter value based on the latest target depth. If it is different from the depth of time, the effective buoyancy will be negative or positive and move to the latest target depth, and then the effective buoyancy will be zero and move up and down to maintain the latest depth Operation to stop

(d) After repeating the operation of (c) above for a preset period, the value of effective buoyancy is positive and the operation moves up to the sea level.

(e) Operation to transmit the expected data obtained during observation operation wirelessly by data transmission mechanism 14 while maintaining the floating state at the sea surface

[0056] According to the method of using the float / float float 10 by the cycle according to (a) to (e) above, for example, the thermocline or the density gradient layer (pycnocline) is wide! / Over the depth range. Even if it is formed, it is possible to trace the boundary of the temperature-changing layer or density gradient layer with high accuracy in the plane direction along the sea surface.

[0057] In the above, when the sensor 131 can measure at least one weather-related information, the sensor 131 floats on the sea surface during the observation cycle, and the at least one weather It is also possible to measure the related information and perform the operation of transmitting it wirelessly using the data transmission mechanism 14.

[0058] According to the float / sink float of the present invention, both supply and discharge of the buoyancy adjusting fluid related to the bladder are performed by the gear pump, which is a reversible pump. The control of both the discharge and the discharge is basically carried out without being affected by other external forces such as water pressure, so that the volume of the buoyancy adjustment fluid existing in the bladder is reliably adjusted. It becomes possible to do. The amount of buoyancy adjustment fluid transferred by the gear pump and the transfer speed are determined based on the rotation angle and rotation speed of the gear that is electrically high and can be controlled with high accuracy. It is possible to control the transfer amount in detail, and in the end, it is effective for the floating float It is possible to adjust buoyancy in detail and reliably. Therefore, it is possible to accurately switch the up and down movement of the float and sink float and change the movement speed with an excellent response speed.

[0059] Further, the gear pump basically exhibits a braking function by being used in combination with a buoyancy adjusting fluid having a relatively high viscosity as described above. Thus, even when a high pressure is applied to the buoyancy adjusting fluid, the gear pump is operated in a manner in which, for example, the rotation direction and the rotation angle are reliably controlled based on the drive signal. . Therefore, even if there is a large pressure difference between the upstream side and the downstream side across the gear pump in the communication path, the control of the transfer amount of the buoyancy adjusting fluid can be achieved with high accuracy.

The float / sink float of the present invention is provided with a valve mechanism, so that the open / close state of the communication path can be switched reliably, and the movement of the buoyancy adjusting fluid can be reliably controlled. In addition, the buoyancy adjustment mechanism can be simply configured as a whole because it is not necessary to independently provide a return flow path from the bladder to the fluid storage portion related to the buoyancy adjustment fluid.

[0061] According to the gear pump described above, by using the high viscosity oil as the buoyancy adjusting fluid as described above, a high lubrication effect can be obtained, and the liquid caused by the small gap existing in the gear pump can be obtained. Since leakage and the like are suppressed, flow control of the buoyancy adjustment fluid can be reliably achieved.

[0062] Here, the gear pump is generally used by being driven at a relatively high rotational speed of, for example, 800 to 4000 rotations Zmin by an AC driving means of 100 to 200 volts, for example. The numerical values are determined on the assumption that they are driven under the generally used usage conditions.Thus, by driving under the usage conditions or conditions according to the usage conditions, For the first time, the operational effects of the design are reliably exhibited and the operation is guaranteed.

However, as described above, the float / float float 10 of the present invention has an extremely low rotational speed range by the DC drive means that is driven by a very low drive voltage as compared with the general use conditions. The operating conditions are very different and very special conditions. It can be said that it is used in the matter. According to the float / sink float 10 of the present invention, the gear pump 20 is used in such a very special manner, whereby the state of transfer of the buoyancy adjusting fluid in the communication path can be controlled in detail and reliably. Therefore, it is easy to control the movement of the float and float, and the power consumption is suppressed, so that the life of the float and float can be extended.

[0064] Further, according to the buoyancy adjustment mechanism having the above-described configuration, the buoyancy adjustment related to the float / sink float can be performed in a wide range by the transfer of the fluid for buoyancy adjustment. It is possible to mount other various sensors.

[0065] According to the method of using the float / float float of the present invention, the float / float float can be moved with high accuracy to a desired target depth related to various parameter values obtained by the mounted sensor.

[0066] As described above, the force specifically described for the float and sink float of the present invention. Various modifications can be made in the present invention.

For example, the valve mechanism may be configured such that the open / close state in the communication path can be switched steplessly or stepwise. According to such a configuration, the volume control of the bladder can be executed with high accuracy.

The float / float of the present invention may be used in fresh water such as lake water which is not necessarily used in seawater.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A float chamber that forms an airtight interior space, a fluid storage part that is provided in the float chamber and that contains a buoyancy adjusting fluid, and is arranged outside the float chamber 1 and has buoyancy inside A bladder for adjusting the buoyancy acting on the floating float by filling the adjustment fluid and changing the volume, and a pump mechanism for transferring the buoyancy adjustment fluid between the bladder and the fluid storage portion And a float / sink float comprising a drive source for driving the pump mechanism,

A floating float characterized in that the pump mechanism is constituted by a gear pump.

[2] The float / sink float according to claim 1, further comprising a valve mechanism for controlling movement of the buoyancy adjusting fluid between the fluid containing portion and the bladder.

[3] The float / sink float according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the gear pump has a performance-guaranteed drive rotation range of 10 to 150 rotations Zmin.

[4] The float / sink float according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gear pump has a fluid transfer ability of 4.5 to LOOccZmin.

[5] The float / sink float according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the drive source for the pump mechanism is a DC motor.

6. The float / sink float according to claim 1, wherein the buoyancy adjusting fluid has a viscosity of 3000 cst or more at 2 ° C.

[7] The float / float float according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

The float / sink float according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising measuring means for measuring pressure and at least one water-related information.

[8] The floating float according to claim 7,

7. The float according to claim 1, wherein the measurement means is capable of measuring weather-related information.

[9] A method of using the float / float float according to claim 7 or claim 8,

A method for using a float / float float, comprising: adjusting an amount of a buoyancy adjusting fluid in a bladder based on at least pressure information obtained by the measuring means.